Push button having two positions in one of which it is illuminated



Jan. I, 1952 J, THOMAS 2,581,053

PUSH BUTTON HAVING TWO POSITIONS IN ONE OF WHICH IT IS ILLUMINATED FiledJan. 6, 1949 OOOOOOOOOOK INVENTOR. R0867? T J THOMAS Patented Jan. 1,1952 UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE PUSH BUTTON HAVING POSITIONS IN ONE OFWHICH ITIS ILLUMINATED Robert J. Thomas, Royal ak,:Mich.' ApplicationJanuary 6, 1949, Serial No. 69,427

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to signaling devices, and has particularreference to a device which may be employed to indicate whether or not aperson is in or out of his ofiice, or to indicate the existence ornon-existence of other facts or conditions; 7 An object of the inventionis to provide a signaling device which is readily adaptable toswitchboards, directory panels, and other applications where it isdesired to indicate the presence or absence of a person or thing, or toindicate a positive or negative answer to a particular problem.

Although I have herein disclosed the device as being applied to adirectory panel arranged to carry a plurality of names, as for examplethe names of tenants in a building, doctors in a hospital, or oflice,and the like, the invention has wider applications and broader aspectsas will hereinafter appear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling apparatuswhich is constructed and arranged so that a plurality of indicators maybe served by a. common light source.

Another object of the invention is to provide a signaling device whichis constructed and arranged so that any failure of a light source wouldbe positively indicated by a whole bank or a plurality of indicators.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. signaling device whichhas wide applicability and great flexibility in its use, particularlywhere different colors are required to be used for indicating differentsignals.

Another object of the invention is to improve signaling devices and toprovide a signaling apparatus which is simple in construction,economical to manufacture and install, and efficient in operation.

' Another object of the invention is to provide means for conductinglight from a common light source to a variety of signal outlets withoutthe requirement of switches, wires, or small lamps directly connectedwith the light conductor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel conductor forlight which is constructed and arranged so that the light may beconducted to a signal outlet or may be entirely shut ofi at will withoutincreasing, decreasing orextinguishing the light source.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent asthe description proceeds, reference being made tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of the within disclosure, inwhich drawings:

Fig. l is an enlarged transverse section of a directory board equippedwith the device emodying the invention. Fig. 1 is taken substantially onthe line l-l of'Fig. 3. s

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in 5 front elevation of thedevice illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section taken substantiallyon the line 3-3 of Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view in perspectiveillustrating the principal elements of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section taken substantiallyon the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of one of the conductors with assembledparts in section.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be understoodthat in the embodiment herein disclosed the reference characters 1, 8and 9 indicate directory panels positioned in the lobby of a hopsital,oflice building, or apartment on which is positioned name plates I0.Opposite each name plate I0 is a light conductor ll arranged to indicatewhether or not the person named on the name plate In is in or out. Eachpanel 1, 8 and 9 may be formed of one or more thicknesses of material,and may be provided with back members l2, l3 and I4, and reinforcingpartitions l5, l6, l1 and I8 which are arranged to define hollowenclosures in which are mounted the light source elements I9, 20, 2| and22, which in this embodiment are fluorescent tubes of sufficient lengthto cover substantially the full height of the panels 1, 8 and 9. It willbe noted that each fluorescent tube I 9, 20, 2| and 22 is arranged toserve as a light source for two or more vertical banks of lightconductors ll. Each light conductor H is made of a single length oflight conductive plastic material, such as Plexiglas or other suitablematerial, and formed with a central section 23 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5)having a substantially square cross section, and members 24 and 25having substantially circular cross section.

The end member 25 is provided with a substantially 45 degree angularface 26 which face 26 it will be noted is positioned away from the lightsource so that when the end 25 of the conductor H is exposed to thelight rays, the light rays will transversely penetrate the end 25 andstrike the inside of the angular surface 26 whereupon the light rayswill be directed longitudinally through the conductor H, and willilluminate the exposed end of the conductor ll. When the conductor H ispulled outwardly, so that the end 25 is not exposed to the light rays,no light will be conducted through the conductor and the front end ofthe conductor will appear as if the light source had been extinguished,so that when the conductors H are positioned as shown in Fig. 1, theconductors will be illuminated, and when the conductors are pulled outas shown at NA in Fig. 1 the end of the conductors will appear as thoughthe light source had been extinguished.

The conductors H and HA are slidably supported in apertures formed inthe vertical members 21 and 28 (Figs. 1 and 4) and are prevented fromrotating about their longitudinal axes by means of the verticallypositioned bars' 29 which abut against the sides of the square sections23. A shield Si! is provided for theend 25 of each conductor HA so thatthe light rays are directed only against the sides of the ends 25 whenthey extend beyond the members 28.

The inside faces 3| of the shields 30 are preferably painted black toprevent any reflection of the light rays which might tend to strike theends 25 longitudinally.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1.'In a device of the character described, including a tubular lightsource and a double walled shield for the light source, the combinationof a plurality of plastic light conductors slidable in said shield, eachof said conductors having an angular face at the end adjacent said lightsource and each of said conductors having an enlarged central sectionwith at least one flat side face, each end of said central section beingarranged to contact a respective wall of said shield to serve as stopsand the said flat side face of each said central section being arrangedto slidably engage a spacer positioned between the double walls of saidshield,-whereby to prevent the rotation of said conductor.

'2. The structure of claim 1, including an element on one'wall of'saidshield adjacent the angular face of each conductor, each element beingarranged to overhang the angular face of one of said conductors, wherebyto partially shield such conductor.

ROBERT J. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The-following references are of record in the file'ofthis patent:

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS

